And now the Grizzlies are a perpetual force. Then last season Zach Randolph fought a borderline losing battle with injuries as well, and Memphis’s overall playoff performance against the Clippers was truly self-crippling. During that 2010-11 campaign, Rudy Gay was sidelined and forced to watch as his team made an improbable push without him. Ever since upsetting the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs, the hope has been that Memphis could contend with the likes of the Heat, Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers on a daily basis.īut the Grizzlies haven’t been what you would call healthy. That it’s time to buy into the Grizzlies as not just a threat, but a dominant force.Īrguably, it’s been a long time coming for this squad. Aside from the Heat and Thunder, the Grizzlies have defeated the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz-all of which are postseason hopefuls. It’s not like Memphis has had the luxury of facing pushovers either. Four of those games were won by 10 or more points while the other two were won by at least eight. Like torch the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder good.Īfter losing to the Los Angeles Clippers on opening night, the Grizzles have won six straight games, establishing themselves as one of the NBA’s most formidable powerhouses in the process.